Transcript Transitive and Intertransitive Verbs

Transitive and
Intransitive Verbs
Key terms for transitive/intransitive verbs
Direct objects are words that receive the
action of the verb.
Some verbs have direct objects and others
do not.
If the verb has a direct object, it is
transitive.
If it does not, it is intransitive.
Does it have a direct object?
To determine whether a verb has a direct
object,
Ask: whom or what after it
You can only tell if a verb is intransitive or
transitive from the sentence it is in.
Check out this example:
He wrote the manuscript.
The verb is wrote.
Ask yourself: He wrote (what)
Answer: The manuscript is the direct object.
Therefore wrote is a transitive verb.
Another example:
The dog shook his tail.
The verb is shook.
Ask yourself: The dog shook (what)
Answer: Tail is the direct object.
Therefore shook is a transitive verb.
Examples of intransitive verbs
Mrs. Carper applauded.
The verb is applauded.
Ask yourself: Applauded (whom or what?)
Answer: There is no word to receive the action
of the verb applauded and no direct object.
Therefore applauded is an intransitive verb.
The dog shook.
The verb is shook.
Ask yourself: Shook (whom or what?)
Answer: There is no word to receive the action
of the verb shook and no direct object.
Therefore shook is an intransitive verb.
Direct Objects= Not in Prep Phrases
The direct object will never be in a
prepositional phrase.
Consider the following sentence:
The dog shook on the sofa.
Where is the prepositional phrase?
Is the verb transitive or intransitive?
The wild, wild world of verbs
Verbs are the most confusing part of
speech.
However, every sentence must have a
verb to complete the meaning of the
subject.
Do not become overwhelmed by all the
types of verbs. Write simply and clearly
are my words of advice to you.